March 3 2026 - Exploring Wilderness & Coastal Drives in South Africa

March 3 2026 - Exploring Wilderness & Coastal Drives in South Africa

Location: South Africa Summary: Today I embarked on a wonderful coastal journey through South Africa with my travel companions Ron and Chris. We initially headed to Hermanas hoping to see dolphins in the harbor, but unfortunately missed them. However, driving through these charming coastal towns with their tourist attractions and beautiful beaches was still incredibly rewarding. South Africa's diversity amazes me - from these lovely seaside communities to the townships, it's truly a country of contrasts with 65 million people sharing this remarkable land. We continued our adventure to Kleinbaij, taking sandy coastal roads that made us feel like we were in the middle of nowhere, even though we didn't need four-wheel drive. After a pleasant stop for food in Bredasdorp, we made our way to Wilderness. Having two extra people to help with accommodation searches and photography has been incredibly helpful - they handle the logistics while I can focus on the journey, and we all share photos afterward. Ron and Chris took charge of finding us a place to stay since we hadn't made reservations. We ended up with an elderly couple who had previously built and operated a 7-apartment property across the street, which they sold a year and a half ago when it became too much work. Now they rent out 5 bedrooms in their own place, just across from the water, while the lady works on completing her art studio. The husband, a retired commercial real estate attorney who previously worked in what was once Orange State (now Free State), was incredibly welcoming. Interestingly, we traveled even further south than Cape of Good Hope, giving us the distinction of reaching the true southernmost point of South Africa, rather than just the westernmost southern point. We found a great restaurant within walking distance for dinner - a bit tricky to locate without directions, but well worth the effort. After our excellent meal, we called it an early night to prepare for tomorrow's adventures. Wilderness has proven to be a perfect place to stay, and I'm grateful you're following along on this journey.

March 2 2026 - Table Mountain Cable Car Adventure

Location: South Africa Summary: Today was absolutely incredible! March 2nd turned out to be the perfect day for visiting Table Mountain in Cape Town with Ron and Chris. Unfortunately, Gert-Jan was heading back to the Netherlands, so he missed out on this amazing experience. The weather was beautiful, which meant everyone else had the same idea - the crowds were massive! We had to park quite far from the cable car station, but we splurged on speedy tickets to skip about an hour of waiting in line. Even from the base station, the views of Cape Town were absolutely astounding. The cable car system consists of two round gondolas that hold about 50 people each, and they rotate during the journey so everyone gets spectacular views on the way up. The summit was a bit touristy, but completely worth it. I had wonderful conversations with locals, including a South African lady who told me about hiking to the top when she was younger. I even got to practice my Dutch with a family from the Netherlands! After our Table Mountain adventure, we headed east to a place called Vermont (also known as Onrus, meaning 'restless' in Afrikaans). We stayed at the Oude Schuur (Old Barn), where the owner met us personally to get us sorted with rooms. We ended the day with dinner overlooking the Onrus River and beach. It was a bit cooler, but the whole experience was perfect. Table Mountain is definitely a must-see when visiting Cape Town!

March 1 2026 - Cape Town Adventure: Airport Pickups & Peninsula

Location: South Africa Summary: What an incredible day to wrap up my two-week adventure through Namibia and South Africa! I started very early, picking up Ron and Chris from the Netherlands at 6:10 AM. Katja and I had to leave at 5:30 AM to make it to the airport on time. There was some disruption due to a fire in the arrival hall, which meant more walking than usual, but we managed just fine. After collecting our tired but happy friends, we headed to Melkbosstrand and grabbed breakfast at my favorite bakery - they never disappoint! We got Ron and Chris settled at their accommodation for their remaining night before their 8-day exploration begins. Then we embarked on a spectacular tour toward the Cape of Good Hope, driving around Lion's Head and Signal Hill through Cape Town. We kept passing the Dutch consulate, which was amusing given our Dutch visitors. The scenery at Kommetjie was absolutely breathtaking, though I was disappointed not to find the Dutch soup I was hoping for and settled for fish and chips instead. We made it as far south as Smitswinkel Bay on the peninsula, coming tantalizingly close to the Cape of Good Hope without realizing we could actually reach it. On our way back north along the eastern side, we encountered some baboons (locally called bobejans) rummaging through garbage cans, and passed a touristy penguin boulder watching spot. The day concluded with a farewell dinner at the trattoria in Melkbosstrand for Gedeon's last meal with us before his midnight flight. Taking him to the airport for his departure marked the end of an amazing journey filled with incredible stories and unforgettable experiences.

February 28 2026 - Exploring Cape Towns Waterfront

Location: South Africa Summary: Today was Gert-Jan's last full day with our travel group, so I wanted to make it memorable despite the low-hanging clouds obscuring Table Mountain. We started by relocating to a new accommodation just a block away from the beach - the previous place had been rented to someone else, but this worked out perfectly since the new house had an extra bed for the upcoming changeover when my nephews Ron and Chris arrive tomorrow. After getting settled, we explored Bos Strand a bit more before heading to Cape Town. This was essentially Gert-Jan's first real look at the city since he'd flown directly to meet me in Windhoek after his initial landing. The cloudy weather made Table Mountain less spectacular and ruled out going up it, so we decided to visit the District Six Museum instead. The museum was incredibly moving - it tells the story of how this vibrant neighborhood was destroyed during apartheid when the area was designated for white redevelopment. Even though I knew some of this history, experiencing it firsthand was still difficult to comprehend - the complexity of apartheid's impact, both its devastating wrongs and the resilience it sparked. We drove around Cape Town's scenic areas, passing between Table Mountain and Lion's Head, then along the waterfront. The waterfront reminded me of Alki Beach in Seattle - bustling with people, restaurants, and activities. Despite the overcast weather, it turned into a beautiful day. We ended up dining at the same restaurant in Malmö Strand again - when you find a good place, why change? The evening was filled with reminiscing about our incredible two weeks together, all the deserts we'd seen, and the challenging roads we'd conquered. Having Gert-Jan along for this journey has been amazing. Every travel configuration has its unique magic, whether you're traveling solo or with a large group.

February 27 2026 - First Time in Cape Town: Dutch Consulate & Table Mountain

Location: South Africa Summary: I was thrilled to finally reach Cape Town for the first time on this Friday, February 27th. While Gert-Jan took a rest day, I ventured out alone, starting with breakfast at an Omul Bakery near Melkbos Strand that served traditional Dutch pastries. Before leaving, I met an enthusiastic group of Zimbabwean maintenance workers who were excited about my journey and even looked up my website after seeing it on my car. The drive to Cape Town was spectacular, with Table Mountain visible in the distance on this beautiful day. The traffic was relaxed, though I had to remember to drive on the left side. Entering Cape Town after crossing the entire continent felt like a significant achievement. In the city, I saw an impressive building with portraits of Mandela and others. My main task was visiting the Dutch consulate to apply for a new business passport, which went smoothly without an appointment. The helpful staff assured me it would be ready within a week, saving me the trouble of picking it up elsewhere since the Durban consulate no longer exists. I met some Portuguese travelers who visit southern Africa annually and were buying their own Toyota instead of renting. Later, I rejoined Gert-Jan, who had enjoyed swimming in the Atlantic Ocean and made friends with local lifeguards. We ended the day perfectly with dinner at an Italian trattoria, walking through what seemed to be a charming tourist community about thirty minutes north of Cape Town.